'Integrity units under PM's Dept not doing their job'

The integrity units in all public agencies under the Prime Minister's Department have failed to prevent abuses, resulting in the continuous criticism in the reports of the auditor-general, says Gerakan secretary-general Mah Siew Keong.

Expressing his disappointment with the abuses of the civil servants as reported in the audit report, Mah called on the Public Services Department to play its part to ensure good governance, attention to complaints and discipline in the civil service.

"The government must also go beyond this and welcome public scrutiny by enlisting the involvement of certain non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to conduct periodical external reviews on the performance of all ministries and public agencies. This will be in line with the promotion of transparency and accountability in the civil service," Mah (right) said.

"The government must respond immediately by punishing the culprits and re-assessing the
effectiveness of the integrity units established in each ministry and government agency."

Mah said this embarrassing fiasco was taking annually, with little signs of improvement despite the public disclosure and criticism in the annual reports of the auditor-general.

He described some of the wastage and leakages reported as utterly shocking and unacceptable, and that stern action should be taken against those involved.

"This seriously puts the accountability and professionalism of the civil service into question and raises doubts over previous efforts by the government to overcome this persisting problem," the Gerakan leader said.

Mah also called on the Chief Secretary to the government, Ali Hamsa, as the most senior officer in the
civil service, to explain the recurrence of the widespread malpractices and abuses in the public sector and to act strongly against the culprits.

The Auditor-General's 2012 Report was tabled in Parliament yesterday and various media have highlighted the abuses, wastage, leakages of public funds and mismanagement.